A New Hampshire high school banned the American flag at a pep rally, and you won't believe what happened next!

Actually, you probably would. People lost their minds, reacting with outrage before getting the facts.

We have nothing against a little righteous indignation now and then, say when a state school investigates a sorority for singing, or elementary schools ban kids from having best friends to spare the feelings of other students.

But for indignation to be righteous, you have to know what you're talking about.

When Union Leader columnist Jennifer Horn read about the flag flap in Londonderry, instead of blowing a gasket, she took the time to find out why flags were not being allowed.

In the past, students had treated American flags disrespectfully, and Londonderry pep rally organizers didn't want to offend people by repeating that behavior. So no flags as props from now on. School officials went out of their way to ensure proper treatment of the American flag.

The Daily Caller picked up the story under the misleading headline, "This High School BANNED American Flags For A Pep Rally. The Reason Might Surprise You."

How many times was that story posted, shared, and commented on by people who failed to read past the headline?

An old adage holds, "A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on."

That was before instant electronic communications and social networks. How much faster can a lie travel these days?

People should be reading, sharing, and talking about the news online. We encourage you to do so on the Union Leader's Facebook page.

But it's also important to read before you react. Give the truth a chance to put its pants on.